In Which Katy Wolk-Stanley and Deepak Choprah Spend an Afternoon Playing Video Games — A Giveaway

I was sent a copy of Deepak Chopra’s Leela to review. And yes, it is a video game. (For Xbox 360 Kinect and Wii.) I know it sounds counterintuitive to have a relaxation and meditation video game, but I was highly intrigued. (Wait . . . what?!)

When I think of video games, my mind goes to sports, racing, kill-the-bad-guy, and yes, Pac-Man. And although we do have a video game system at home, the only time I’ve ever played it was for, you guessed it, Pac-Man. (Seriously, even at age 43, I am still quite the formidable Pacmaniac!)

But Leela is a video game in name only. There are no bad guys and certainly no crazy adrenaline as you race towards a finish line. It kind of defies categorization. In Sanskrit, the word Leela means “play.”

The game is based on the seven chakras, which are “a way of understanding how the energy flows inside and through you.” The game itself is split into two areas: “Movement and Sequence” and “Meditation and Oracle.” Each area then has a number of sequences that have to be “unlocked” before moving on to the next level.

I had hoped to dabble in all levels before writing up my review, but it would take quite awhile to accomplish this feat. However, I made sure to dabble in each category.

The game aims to help us ” maintain physical, mental, emotional and spiritual balance,” and who among us is not looking for balance?

Between the two options, I was more drawn to the “Meditation and Oracle” area, as guided meditation was more of a natural fit for me than “Movement and Sequence.” It was nice to have the two different choices of how to get the best out of this video game. Although, as I work my way through this game (which I plan on doing) I may find myself to be more of a “Movement and Sequence” kind of gal.

As a non-gamer, it’s hard to compare Leela to other video games. So I can only say that it was certainly interesting, and I could see myself using and enjoying the guided meditation within the game. And if Deepak Chopra ever makes his way to Portland, he has a standing invitation to play Pac-Man with me, although he’s sure to lose.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”

One lucky reader will have the chance to try out Leela on the Wii gaming system, courtesy of THQ (providing Leela) and BlogHer (providing the Wii). To be entered for a chance to win, please answer the following question:

How do you bring peace and balance into the confusion of a busy schedule and your daily life?

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

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c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.

Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.

You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

My chores end after my 5-year-old goes to bed. Dishes in the sink? I can do them in the morning. Tidying up? Same thing. My energy level is much better in the daytime, and the evening rest period allows me more time with my teenage daughter while she’s doing homework or watching TV. Then book-reading in bed until I find myself nodding off. (Qualifier that I am a stay-at-home mom, so I luckily have the time during the daytime.)

My cats, particularly my eldest. She takes a lot of extra care, which can be exhausting, but there is something amazingly centering about just sitting with her and enjoying her company while I care for her.

I’ve adopted a quiet hour in the house. From about 2 -3pm. The 4yr old still naps, the kindergartner can read books or have quiet play independently and I get a chance to have a break in the noise and chaos to have some quiet time reading or in thought.

I brew a cup of tea. In the few minutes it takes to set the electric kettle to heat the water, measure out the loose leaf tea, steep it, allowing the soft sent to waft up I can forget about the day, and look forward to breathing in and savoring that first sip. It is even better if I can steal away a few more minutes to sit down and enjoy the cup. It helps me slow down, refresh, and energize.

My afternoon power nap. I set my phone to go off in ten minutes and lie down, eyes closed. Sometimes I fall asleep, sometimes I do but that 10 minutes of silence and stillness does wonders! I love Chopra…working my way through one of his books now!

I work out and while I am working out I find my mind working on problems, ordering my to-dos, reflecting on good friends, all kinds of crazy stuff. I really don’t think my mental health could afford to not work out.

I wake up a half hour before my family each morning and work out on my exercise bike. UNLESS I wake up at 5:30 am and go walking with my next door neighbor (then I go back to sleep until it’s time for all of us to wake up!)

The best way for me to relax and bring balance to my life is to take an afternoon and pamper myself. I read in the tub, do my nails, and give myself a pedicure. It is a fabulous relaxing day, and it is free!

I work…a lot. I get a half hour for lunch so I try to make the most of it. I spend about 10 minutes gobbling down a veggie burger, then I take what I like to call a “meditation nap”. I sit at my office desk, set a timer for twenty minutes, close my eyes, focus on my breathing and just relax. Sometimes I fall asleep, sometimes I just enjoy the quiet. It helps me focus for the rest of the day.

During my ride to work each morning, it’s dark outside, fresh fountain diet coke in my cup holder, and any darn radio station I want to listen to on the radio. I can regroup, be quiet, not correct any children or respond to husbands requests, I can just drive and think, and reconnect with me.

I am also commenting that I am in a particularly stressful time and have been struggling with finding ways to decompress. The idea of meditation came to me about a week ago and I have been contemplating how to get started. Was this blog post a coincidence? I think not.

Right now my best method of bringing peace and balance — work 4 days a week (80%) and take Fridays off to run errands, cook, organize, lunch with a friend, whatever. Makes me MUCH more sane than when I worked 5 days.

And Katy, I would love to be a fly on the wall when Deepak Choprah comes over to play PacMan. 🙂

Horseback riding. Riding mindfully, the barn is the only place I just *am* and don’t think about work or other daily stresses. Even cantering around in a circle all you can think about is you and the horse.

I always have a lot going on, so I live with plenty of colorful sticky notes and lists. These reminders allow me to live in the moment, knowing that I will get to my tasks at the right time because I won’t forget. I can relax and be where I am needed, so peace and balance follow naturally.

Sounds silly to type, but working an office job that can get stressful for no reason (URGENT URGENT! I THINK I NEED THIS RIGHT NOW) type of atmosphere, I am working to take a moment and stretch. Squats with my arms outstretched. A few stretching lunges at my desk. Stop, and move.

I thought it was silly to put reading as my “peace and balance” but I see I’m not alone. My book, magazine, newspaper, or newly acquired Kindle help me get absorbed into something other than my schedule and to-do list, even if it’s just the time spent on the subway.

I have a great husband, and he allows me to have my own time and space. He takes the boys out sometimes for the entire day and I find a lot of solace working in the peace of my garden during that time.

I’m an energy coach so I have a few tools I can use, but mostly, I find balance and peace though asking the right questions, being willing to hear the answers that come up, and letting go of whatever comes up.Â

I linger over home/garden/cooking magazines with a cup of coffee, admiring the beautiful layouts, the meticulous homes, the manicured gardens, all the while knowing they have no relationship to reality and that my own chaotic cluttered mess has no chance of morphing into such perfection. Yet, I find the process relaxing, and occasionally motivating.

Well we really dont have much PEACE as far as â€œpeace and quietâ€ because
life has been constant crazy for years for our family with 6 kids always running for sports and family events. I have learned after becoming ill to pass on perfection and not stress out about having everything JUST SO. My balance is also found with the whisper of little prayers every dayâ€¦it just seems to ground me. Lately the calm and balance seems like it should be rattled even MORE, with a new live in grand daughter depleting our sleep, but really, cuddling and rocking a tiny angel puts everything in perspective. It takes you out of the rat race and makes you just sit down and see the world with new wonder.

Take a big breathe, and I ask myself if there is anything my stressing will do to benefit the situation? I grab my bike and head out to the lake and bike the trails, it lets me clear my head… just some quiet time for myself.
karenmed409 at comcast dot net

My own form of meditation is knitting while watching television. In fact, the lower the quality level of the show, the better. I like something that’s mildly entertaining but doesn’t require me to really concentrate. (Pawn Stars comes to mind.)

I’m with the commenter above me. I pray… a lot. When I’m driving down the road (eyes open – I promise!), when I’m sitting in class, when I’m cooking dinner… all the time. I just pray. A walk with the dogs helps to clear my mind, too.

Hi Katy, this is my favourite blog on the internets (do love some Hyperbole and a half too though). Just wanted to comment (don’t want to win anything) how much it tickles me that all these people are trying to win a Wii console and game on a blog called ” Non Consumer Advocate”. That’s all really.

Ideally, the first thing I do everyday before the kids wake up is to spend an hour reading, praying, scheduling my day, and exercising. I’ll admit, though, it’s hard getting out of bed at 5:30, and some weeks I’m much more consistent than others. I really think that starting my day before the rest of the family is the best thing I can do for myself and my family.

Second, I try to focus on one area of the house to clean up that helps me feel sane. For me, it’s my bedroom, and every day I make my bed and tidy up. Even if the rest of the house is in complete chaos, having my one little sanctuary helps me to not be anxious about the rest of the craziness of the day.

lastly, I try to get at least 30 minutes of quiet in the afternoon (but I love an hour) where the kids are downstairs, and I sit down with a warm cup of coffee or chai. I read, putter around online, or work on a project.

I try to be very organized in my daily routine. If I have figured out dinner, started the laundry and completed to day’s clean up chore by the early am, them my household runs with a more peaceful rhythm.

To bring a sense of peace, calm, and balance to my life, I indulge in a period of meditation the first thing each morning. Then I write a page in my gratitude journal. It puts me into a positive frame of mind that usually lasts all day.

I find balance and peace by practicing snuggle therapy. Seriously! Snuggling with my hubby and 7 fur babies (read house cats) by candle light or the light of our DVD fireplace is so wonderful. It is truly amazing how healing it can be! Doing this on a regular basis keeps things in perspective and makes you ready for the play/work part of your life!

I’ve found that taking even just a few minutes to create something – little bit of knitting, painting, doodling, etc – really helps me relax. If I don’t have enough time for that, a quick cup of chai always seems to calm me down a lot after a long day.